Tire chain means

ABSTRACT

A tire chain assembly comprising a belt adapted to extend around the tire. A plurality of chain links are integrally mounted on the belt. A first cable passes through the end links of said chains on one side of the tire. A second cable passes through the end links of said chains on the other side of said chains. A turnbuckle secures the ends of said cables when the belt and chain assembly is mounted on a tire.

United States Patent 1191 Dolan Oct. 16, 1973 1 TIRE CHAIN MEANS1,953,495 4/1934 Nargi 152/222 [76] Inventor: Thomas E. Dolan, 2568Parkview p1 Baldwin Primary ExaminerJames B. Marbert AssistantExaminer-Kenneth Noland [22] Flled: June 12, 1972 Attorney-James P.Malone [21] Appl. No.2 262,144

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 152/219, 152/217 A tire chain assemblycomprising a belt adapted to {5 l I u l I I I s 5 a I 4 A [58] Field ofSearch 152/213 A, 219, 222, tegrauy mounted on the belt A firs-t cablepasses 15 2/ 241 through the end links of said chains on one side of thetire. A second cable passes through the end links of [56] Referencescued said chains on the other side of said chains. A turn- UNITED STATESE T buckle secures the ends of said cables when the belt 2,436,7092/1948 Bozenhard et al 152/241 and chain assembly is mounted on a tire.1,890,346 12/1932 Tudhope 152/222 1 2,553,849 5/1951 Dines 152/241 2Chums, 4 Drflwmg Flgures 3,616,830 11/1971, McGill 152/213 A TIRE CHAINMEANS This invention relates to tire chains and more particularly totire chains which are easy to mount on a vehicle wheel.

In the present invention, the assembly comprises a plurality of chainswhich are mounted on a belt or jacket for easy handling. The belt orjacket is adapted to be wrapped around the vehicle wheel. First andsecond cables pass through end links of the chains, the first cablebeing on the front side of the wheel and the second cable being on therear side of the wheel. The cables are secured to a turnbuckle or othersecuring device which is mounted on the front side of the wheel. Theassembly can be mounted on a vehicle wheel with all connections beingmade on the front side of the wheel. The assembly can be mounted on awheel in a very short time without jacking up the vehicle.

In order to mount the assembly, the belt or jacket is draped around thewheel and thereby mounting all of the transverse chains across the outerperiphery of the wheel with proper spacing. The securing cables are thenconnected to a turnbuckle or other securing means on the front of thewheel. If the assembly will not fit completely on the bottom of thewheel, the car may be rolled about one or two feet. Alternatively byeliminating one of the transverse chains at the bottom of the wheel theassembly may be mounted without moving the car or jacking up the car.

Accordingly, the principal object of the invention is to provide new andimproved tire chain means.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved tirechain means which may be mounted in a very short period of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved tirechain means which may 'be mounted in a very short period of time havingattachment means on the front of the wheel thereby eliminating thenecessity for making attachments on the rear side of the wheels.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved tirechain means which may be placed on a wheel without jacking up the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved tirechain means which may be mounted without jacking up or rolling the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide new and improved tirechain means comprising, belt means adapted to extend around a tire, aplurality of chain links mounted on said belt, a first cable passingthrough the end links of said chains on one side, a second cable passingthrough the end links of said chains on the other side of said chains,and means to secure the ends of said cables when said belt and chainassembly is mounted on a tire.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing specifications and drawings, of which:

FIG. I is a front view of an embodiment of the invention mounted on atire.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a detail view showing the turnbuckle securing mechanism.

parallel relationship. A first cable 6 passes through the end links ofthe chains of one end of the chains, except the two end chains. A secondcable 7 passes through the end links of the other end of the chains. Thecable 7 is the rear cable and its extensions 7a and 7b extend around thetire to the front of the tire where the ends are connected to turnbuckle10. The ends of the front FIG. 4 is a view of the embodiment of FIG. Ilaid out Referring to the Figures, the invention generally comprises abelt or jacket 1, which is adapted to extend around the tire 2. Aplurality of chains, 3, 4, and 5,, etc. are mounted transversely on thebelt 1, in generally cable 6 are also connected to the turnbuckle. Theends of the cable 6 are permanently connected to the eye members of theturnbuckle and the ends of the cable 7 have snap on hooks 7c and 7d toattach to the eye members of the turnbuckle. The cables are integrallyconnected to belt 1, by molding into one piece or they may be connectedby metal fasteners such as nuts and bolts, 15 and 16, connecting toextensions la and lb of belt 1.

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the invention mounted on a tire. The end 7aof the cable 7, passes around the tire through a slotted buffer 11connected to the belt 1 and the end 7b of the cable 7 passes around thetire through a similar slotted buffer 11' on the other side.

In order to mount the assembly on the tire the belt is drapedaround thetop of the wheel. The chains will be uniformly spaced since they areintegrally connected to the belt. The ends of the front cable 6 are thenattached to the turnbuckle. The pins, 17, 17 are passed through theloops 18, 18' before being inserted into the turnbuckle 10. The ends ofthe rear cable 7 are then passed around to the front of the vehicle andattached to the turnbuckle. The turnbuckle 10 is then tightened up tosecure the assembly in place. The turnbuckle has reverse threads at oneend so that when it turns in one direction it tightens up the assembly.The cables may be of the type used for airplane strut cable andpreferably have sufficient flexibility for wrapping around the tire.

If the full set of chains is used it will be necessary to roll the carone or two feet in order to get the bottom chains under the wheel.However, if one or two chains are omitted from the bottom section itwill not be necessary to move the car and in no event is it necessary tojack up the vehicle.

Therefore, the advantages of the present invention are as follows:

Easily mounted on a tire in a short period of time. The total time lapsein putting this thing on the tire was less than two minutes, and with aproperly engineered device I envision less than one minute.

The attachment mechanism is all worked from th front of the tireeliminating the necessity of going underneath the car for any additionalattachments.

The mechanism is put onto the tire without jacking the car or even withone or two chains omitted at the bottom, without rolling the carforward.

Relatively inexpensive.

The dissassembly and storage could be accomplished at will with a verymodest time lapse.

The cable extensions 7a and 7b, which wrap around the outside of thetire may b made of chains, if desired.

I claim:

1. Tire chain means comprising,

belt means adapted to extend around a tire,

a plurality of chains mounted transversley on said a first outside cableconnected to the ends of said chains on one side of said belt means,

a second inside'cable connected to the ends of said chains on the otherside of said belt means, and

means to secure the ends of said cables when said and means to connectsaid inside cable to said turnbelt and chain assembly is mounted on atire, buckle whereby both inside and outside cables are comprising aturnbuckle, connected to said outside tightened by said turnbuckle.

cable, 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 having buffer means on said turnbucklebeing mounted on the front face of 5 said belt means to protect saidcables passing from the the tire,, and the cable on the rear of the tirepassrear to the front of said tire.

ing around said tire,

1. Tire chain means comprising, belt means adapted to extend around atire, a plurality of chains mounted transversley on said belt, a firstoutside cable connected to the ends of said chains on one side of saidbelt means, a second inside cable connected to the ends of said chainson the other side of said belt means, and means to secure the ends ofsaid cables when said belt and chain assembly is mounted on a tire,comprising a turnbuckle, connected to said outside cable, saidturnbuckle being mounted on the front face of the tire,, and the cableon the rear of the tire passing around said tire, and means to connectsaid inside cable to said turnbuckle whereby both inside anD outsidecables are tightened by said turnbuckle.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1having buffer means on said belt means to protect said cables passingfrom the rear to the front of said tire.